A PRESSING need to rationalise a widespread pastoral portfolio will see one of the few remaining large-scale North Coast grazing properties go under the hammer next month.
Comara Station, the Upper Macleay property of Hunter Valley cattleman Manuel Fernandes, was initially listed for private sale in 2010 by G.M. Llewelyn and Company of Merriwa.
It was actually “sold” – contracts exchanged and the country destocked – to an investment company for timber plantings, but failed to settle when this and similar schemes collapsed.
The property was subsequently re-advertised last month with an asking price of $7.5 million, but the vendor has now decided to short-circuit the selling process and meet the market at auction.
As a result, Llewelyn and Company and Kempsey Stock and Land will jointly offer Comara Station in Kempsey on May 23, in what will be a true test of coastal “cow country” demand.
Comprising 5567 hectares (13,757ac), Comara Station is a high-rainfall coastal hinterland property ideally suited to large-scale cattle breeding operations.
Although now understocked (having been earlier completely destocked in anticipation of a sale), the property has the proven capacity to carry up to 2000 breeders.
The present owner manages Comara Station in conjunction with his other extensive pastoral holdings at Hungerford, Brewarrina, Scone and his home base of Sandy Hollow.
Cattle now running on Comara Station include breeders shifted from “Talyealye”/“Karto”, Mr Fernandes’ 105,000ha aggregation at Hungerford, during last year’s drought.
Situated near Bellbrook, about 60 kilometres west of Kempsey and 100km east of Armidale, Comara Station is an aggregation of three properties built up by Mr Fernandes since buying the original “Comara” in about 2000.
Water is the property’s key selling point, both in terms of rainfall – an annual average of about 1200mm – and a 17km frontage (mostly double) to the Macleay River.
Numerous other creeks and a network of dams augment the river to ensure a secure water supply in every paddock.
About three-quarters of the property is cleared and ranges from alluvial flats to undulating pasture country well grassed with kikuyu, paspalum and clovers.
The main homestead is a modern, air-conditioned, four-bedroom brick dwelling overlooking Five Day Creek. Features include a large family room, paved verandah and double garage.
There are three other homes on the property, and working improvements include five sets of cattle yards, machinery and hay sheds, workshop, stables and silos.
Contact Huw Llewelyn, 0429 482 291; or Ian Argue, 0428 655 604.
Peter Austin
Former editor and long time columnist and property writer for The Land.
Former editor and long time columnist and property writer for The Land.
